"Major… is peace finally coming?"
"Perhaps."
A trace of amusement flickered in Mo Wu's eyes. In that moment, it was as if his gaze pierced through countless layers of fog and saw the new era that was about to arrive.
The man known as the Pirate King—his death would usher in a brand-new age!
But wait for me a little longer, Roger…
We're about to meet—on the execution platform.
Mo Wu rolled up the newspaper and handed it back to Drake. Turning to look at the anxious expression on his face, he naturally understood what the man was worried about.
"Don't worry. We'll have plenty to do in the future."
"Phew…"
Hearing that, Drake finally relaxed. He had genuinely been afraid the World Government might start downsizing the Marines after the Pirate King's execution.
After all…
Even though he had been promoted to lieutenant, he was painfully aware that he was still weak. Most of his military achievements had been free credit he picked up by following Mo Wu out to sea.
If he lost this job, there were eight mouths waiting for him back home.
"What happened to that pirate crew from last time?"
"Which pirate crew?"
Mo Wu: …
"Oh, oh! You mean the Dumb Hippo Pirates!"
Seeing the look in Mo Wu's eyes—the exact kind of look one used when staring at an idiot—Drake gave an awkward laugh.
"We worked overtime for four or five days interrogating them, and they've confessed everything."
The awkwardness vanished from Drake's face, replaced by an expression that looked like he was about to burst.
"They said it was their first time going out to sea. They saw how nice our ship was, got excited, and fired a cannon at us."
No wonder he had no memory whatsoever of that hippo pirate flag when he saw it.
So they were rookies who had only just set sail.
But…
Even before the Great Age of Pirates had officially begun, that many people were already heading to sea?
Mo Wu's brow furrowed slightly.
Thinking back to the young, immature faces he had seen aboard that pirate ship, he slowly shook his head.
He could hardly imagine what the seas would look like after Roger truly ignited the Great Age of Pirates.
"Drake, stop standing there and bring two more platters of meat. Make them big. Otherwise people will think our Marine cafeteria can't even provide enough food."
Mo Wu swallowed a huge chunk of meat in one gulp, stacked the empty plates to one side, then rubbed his stomach—which was only about half full—and spoke to Drake, whose jaw had nearly dropped from shock.
"Y-yes, Major!"
Taking the order, Drake turned around mechanically and walked toward the kitchen. His eyes were still dazed. He simply couldn't believe there was someone in this world with such a terrifying appetite—someone who could keep eating after devouring more than a dozen mountain-sized platters of meat!
And judging by the way the Major looked, he wasn't even half full yet!
Inside the kitchen, the air was thick with heat. The clattering of pots and utensils rang out nonstop.
"What? You're saying the Major still isn't full?!"
The bald chef broke out in a cold sweat. They had already cooked and served up the kitchen's entire three-day supply of meat.
A person… could still not be full after that?!
"Are you sure it's only the Major eating???"
Wiping the sweat from his head with a trembling rag, the chef swallowed hard, his eyes full of disbelief.
"Hm?"
Drake snapped back to attention, quickly adjusting his expression from shock back to his usual stern look. Then, staring at the chef who dared question him, he spoke with displeasure.
"Don't worry about that. Just tell me whether you can do it or not."
Since Drake had put it that way, the chef naturally couldn't say no. After all, his son was a Marine too!
"I can!"
The bald chef gritted his teeth and ordered the workers to thaw all the meat in the cold storage.
Heh, Major Mo Wu.
Let me show you what I'm really capable of.
Private Third Class Omi.
After a full day of training, he finally had time to head to the cafeteria and enjoy a nice, hearty meal of fish and meat.
Walking into the mess hall, a trace of anticipation appeared on his tired face.
This familiar smell, this familiar—
Wait.
Why is it all meat today?!
Looking at the heaps upon heaps of meat piled up at the serving windows, Omi swallowed hard.
"W-what is going on here?!"
Could it be they were heading out tomorrow to hunt some major pirate? Or was the Pirate King somehow going to be executed right here at their branch tomorrow?!
The meal was so rich it looked like a last supper, and Omi genuinely began questioning his life.
A final meal before death.
"You didn't know?"
The kitchen uncle behind the serving counter looked at him gloomily.
"Know what? I just got out of training."
"Heh. Major Mo Wu ate fifty platters of meat under the kitchen's full firepower. The head chef was exhausted before he was. These are just his leftovers."
As expected, the Life Return the miracle granted him was absurd.
Feeling the food inside his body being completely broken down into pure clusters of energy and then slowly融融融—no Chinese. Need translate: and then slowly absorbed into every muscle throughout his body, a trace of delight appeared on Mo Wu's face.
Although it couldn't work like Luffy's or Kid's bodies, rapidly digesting food and instantly restoring stamina…
Right now, as far as Mo Wu was concerned, the more he ate, the more energy he absorbed, and the faster his physical abilities would grow.
Still, relying on ordinary food was too slow.
Rubbing his aching cheeks, Mo Wu suddenly found himself envying Luffy's rubber body. No matter how much he stuffed into it, it never burst.
If only he could use the notebook to exchange for that kind of potion from before.
Rubbing his stomach, he remembered how, back in the safe house, five bottles of that potion had kept him full for fifteen days.
Strangely nostalgic.
"How's the matter I told you to investigate?"
Walking down the corridor, listening to the footsteps behind him, Mo Wu asked the question without even turning around.
"Major, the Marines have already begun internal recruitment for executioners to carry out Roger's execution."
Drake scratched his head. Looking at the figure striding ahead of him, he still had no idea why the Major cared so much about this matter, but since he had been given the order, he had used all his connections over the past few days to gather information.
"Has anyone signed up?"
"As far as I know… not yet."
"Good."
With his back to Drake, Mo Wu's eyes shone with unconcealed excitement. He flicked his Justice coat behind him and strode forward, pushing open a wooden door.
The office wasn't particularly large, but it was arranged in a warm, comfortable way.
As always, Milenko sat inside handling paperwork. Ever since he had nearly been killed by Hungry Bird, the man hadn't gone out to sea much at all.
Every day it was home, office, home, office.
After Mo Wu joined, Milenko had even handed over pirate-hunting missions to the enthusiastic Mo Wu, while he himself remained in the office handling logistics.
So when he saw Mo Wu pushing the door open and entering, with Drake behind him, Milenko looked a little surprised.
Why did these two suddenly have time to come see him today?
Could it be about that matter from last time?
Still working through documents under the lamp, Milenko didn't even look up at Mo Wu, but a faint smile still tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Is it about the elite training camp I mentioned last time?"
"Heh. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a chance to grow stronger."
Apparently convinced he had guessed Mo Wu's purpose, Milenko gave a soft chuckle, his tone full of teasing.
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